The promise of pervasive military networks featuring devices issued to each soldier or sailor has circulated for some time. These individuals would have rugged, lightweight displays that roll or fold up that they could use to access crucial and perhaps life-saving information in real time. Contributing to an interesting "big picture" for this technology, the defense sector along with academic research and manufacturing interests have collaborated comprehensively to establish a viable mass-market foundation for flexible displays. Drawing on decades of experience in which military users have broken in new technology, the US government and industry consortia have invested in facilities to provide the Army with flexible display prototypes while also developing key manufacturing processes that will make flexible displays commercially viable.